Adolescent help-seeking for psychological distress, depression, and anxiety using an Internet program

This study explored what adolescents want in an Internet-based self-help program (IBSHP) for psychological distress, in order to encourage them to use the IBSHP to help themselves. Thirteen adolescents (aged 15–18) participated in the Feeling Better program and then completed a 1-h telephone interview, answering questions based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Thematic analysis was used to identify three themes in the interviews. ‘Effectiveness’ represented the usefulness of the IBSHP components and the role of credibility. ‘Privacy allows control over disclosure’ described the IBSHP's provision of a private space in which to seek help. ‘Capacity to seek help’ described the convenience and accessibility of having an online program and the importance of motivation and awareness of the program. These themes reflect the TPB: ‘Effectiveness’ reflecting ‘Attitudes’, ‘Privacy allows control over disclosure’ reflecting ‘Subjective Norms’ and ‘Capacity to seek help’ reflecting ‘Perceived Behavioral Control’.

[1]  Christiane Poulin,et al.  Online health promotion, early identification of difficulties, and help seeking in young people. , 2007, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[2]  Sarah Parker,et al.  Seeking help from the internet during adolescence. , 2002, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[3]  H. Christensen,et al.  The Internet and mental health literacy. , 2000, The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry.

[4]  G. Luscombe,et al.  The assessment of depression awareness and help-seeking behaviour: experiences with the International Depression Literacy Survey , 2007, BMC psychiatry.

[5]  H. Christensen,et al.  The YouthMood Project: a cluster randomized controlled trial of an online cognitive behavioral program with adolescents. , 2009, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[6]  D. Paunesku,et al.  Integrative internet-based depression prevention for adolescents: a randomized clinical trial in primary care for vulnerability and protective factors. , 2008, Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry = Journal de l'Academie canadienne de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent.

[7]  B. V. Van Voorhees,et al.  Adolescent Dose and Ratings of an Internet-Based Depression Prevention Program: A Randomized Trial of Primary Care Physician Brief Advice versus a Motivational Interview. , 2009, Journal of cognitive and behavioral psychotherapies : the official journal of the International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health.

[8]  Linda S Franck,et al.  Here's an idea: ask the users! Young people's views on navigation, design and content of a health information website , 2007, Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and community.

[9]  E. Dubow,et al.  Demographic Differences in Adolescents' Health Concerns and Perceptions of Helping Agents , 1990 .

[10]  C. Sherbourne,et al.  Adolescent Primary Care Patients’ Preferences for Depression Treatment , 2006, Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research.

[11]  Rik Crutzen,et al.  Qualitative assessment of adolescents' views about improving exposure to internet‐delivered interventions , 2008 .

[12]  P L Morselli,et al.  Duration between onset and time of obtaining initial treatment among people with anxiety and mood disorders: an international survey of members of mental health patient advocate groups , 2000, Psychological Medicine.

[13]  L. Fournier,et al.  Correlates of Depressive and Anxiety Disorders among Young Canadians , 2005, Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie.

[14]  M. Angermeyer,et al.  Attitudes that determine willingness to seek psychiatric help for depression: a representative population survey applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour , 2009, Psychological Medicine.

[15]  D. Ford,et al.  Attitudes and illness factors associated with low perceived need for depression treatment among young adults , 2006, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.

[16]  I. Ajzen,et al.  Prediction of goal directed behaviour: Attitudes, intentions and perceived behavioural control , 1986 .

[17]  H. Christensen,et al.  Effects of a Cognitive‐Behavioural Internet Program on Depression, Vulnerability to Depression and Stigma in Adolescent Males: A School‐Based Controlled Trial , 2006, Cognitive behaviour therapy.

[18]  V. Braun,et al.  Using thematic analysis in psychology , 2006 .

[19]  C. Dewa,et al.  Mental Health Service Use among Adolescents and Young Adults with Major Depressive Disorder and Suicidality , 2007, Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie.

[20]  B. Kuehn.  Men face barriers to mental health care. , 2006, JAMA.

[21]  D. Dozois,et al.  Gaps in accessing treatment for anxiety and depression: challenges for the delivery of care. , 2004, Clinical psychology review.

[22]  J. Warner,et al.  A controlled trial of a school-based intervention to improve asthma management , 2006, European Respiratory Journal.

[23]  K. Hawton,et al.  Predicting depression, anxiety and self-harm in adolescents: the role of perfectionism and acute life stress. , 2010, Behaviour research and therapy.

[24]  J. Wisdom,et al.  Family heritage and depression guides: family and peer views influence adolescent attitudes about depression. , 2007, Journal of adolescence.

[25]  J. Hardy,et al.  Psychiatric Disorder Criteria and their Application to Research in Different Racial Groups , 2007, BMC psychiatry.

[26]  I. Ajzen,et al.  Belief, Attitude, Intention, and Behavior: An Introduction to Theory and Research , 1977 .

[27]  C. Draucker.  Processes of mental health service use by adolescents with depression. , 2005, Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

[28]  John Suler.  Psychological Aspects of Cyberspace: Cybertherapeutic Theory and Techniques , 2008 .

[29]  Amanda L. Graham,et al.  Association of multiple behavioral risk factors with adolescents' willingness to engage in eHealth promotion. , 2009, Journal of pediatric psychology.

[30]  P. Lovibond,et al.  Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. 2 , 1995 .

[31]  D. Borzekowski,et al.  Adolescent cybersurfing for health information: a new resource that crosses barriers. , 2001, Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine.

[32]  Anthony F Jorm,et al.  Influences on young people's stigmatising attitudes towards peers with mental disorders: National survey of young Australians and their parents , 2008, British Journal of Psychiatry.

[33]  K. Isakson,et al.  The Adjustment of Adolescents During the Transition into High School: A Short-Term Longitudinal Study , 1999 .

[34]  I. Zajac,et al.  The Structure of Anxiety and Depression in a Normative Sample of Younger and Older Australian Adolescents , 2009, Journal of abnormal child psychology.

[35]  Cecilia Breinbauer,et al.  Youth: choices and change: promoting healthy behaviors in adolescents , 2005 .

[36]  Anthony F. Jorm,et al.  Perceived helpfulness of websites for mental health information , 2008, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.

[37]  L. Rubenstein,et al.  The Acceptability of Treatment for Depression Among African-American, Hispanic, and White Primary Care Patients , 2003, Medical care.

[38]  H. Christensen,et al.  A controlled trial of a school‐based Internet program for reducing depressive symptoms in adolescent girls , 2009, Depression and Anxiety.

[39]  B. Elliott,et al.  Adolescents in mid-sized and rural communities: foregone care, perceived barriers, and risk factors. , 2004, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[40]  Joshua Fogel,et al.  Randomized Clinical Trial of an Internet-Based Depression Prevention Program for Adolescents (Project CATCH-IT) in Primary Care: 12-Week Outcomes , 2009, Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP.